Carnation plant named ‘Hilvivre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hilvivre’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILVIVRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, growncommercially as a potted and garden plant and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Hilvivre’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new potted Carnation plants thathave uniform plant habit and numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in June, 2007 of a proprietaryselection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number A66125-02,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number A2003-01,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Carnation plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in October, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since October, 2009 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Carnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilvivre’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilvivre’ as a new and distinct Carnationplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large red purple-colored double flowers that are positioned        above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Carnation have more wax than        leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation have longer peduncles than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are more fragrant than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation have longer peduncles than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have cerise-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Carnation can be compared to plants of Dianthuscaryophyllus ‘Allura’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,079. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Carnation differed from plants of ‘Allura’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation had smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Allura’.    -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Carnation were slightly        darker in color than flower petals of plants of ‘Allura’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Hilvivre’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and earlyspring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Aalsmeer,The Netherlands and under cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial potted Carnation production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. andlight levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time five weeksafter planting. Plants used for the description were 17 weeks old andplants used for the photograph were 25 weeks old. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Hilvivre’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A66125-02, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A2003-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type and form.—Herbaceous perennial; upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; broad            inverted triangle.        -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching growth habit; when            pinched, about six primary branches develop, each with about            three secondary branches; dense and bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Color: Close to 137B; waxy            cuticle, close to 188A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 6.3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly            oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate, decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; waxy. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B to 137C;            towards the base, close to 144C. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 138C; towards the base, close to 144B to            144C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            waxy cuticle, close to 189A; venation, close to N137A and            189A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A;            waxy cuticle, close to 189A; venation, close to to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Rotate double flowers, flowers            typically solitary or occasionally in pairs; freely            flowering habit with typically about 30 flowers developing            per plant; flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; clove-like, sweet.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the summer and late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about twelve weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Elliptic to oblong. Color: Close to 137A to 137B;            base, close to 143B and 143 C; upper half covered with waxy            cuticle, close to 189A.        -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60            petals and petaloids per flower arranged in numerous whorls.            Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Spatulate.            Apex: Praemorse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 61D; towards the            base, close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            64D and N66C to N66D; towards the base, close to 145A to            145B; color becoming closer to 70D with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to between 64D and 65B; towards            the base, close to 145A to 145B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            proximal 60% of the sepals are fused. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 138C.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B; towards            the base, close to 143B and 143C; upper half covered with            waxy cuticle, close to 189A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 138C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 137A;            towards the base, close to 144A to 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 137B; waxy cuticle, close to 188A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About twelve, mostly            deformed. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape:            Irregularly sagittate; many partially transformed into            petaloids. Anther color: Close to 70C. Pollen: None            observed. Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Pointed. Stigma color:            Close to NN155C to NN155D. Style length: About 1.4 cm. Style            color: Close to NN155C to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to            144A; towards the base, close to 145C. Fruits and seeds:            Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants            of the new Carnation.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Carnation    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Carnation have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. and to be    hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hilvivre’ asillustrated and described.